A Last Minute Chat with Josh Meyer

Just 72 hours before the polls opened, Josh Meyer, Independent Candidate for Associate Circuit Judge was nice enough to take time out of his hectic election-day-is-almost-here schedule to meet with us. We sat in his living room and chatted about the campaign—specifically, why he’s running for associate circuit judge against an incumbent that has been in office for 8 years. Here’s what we found out.

Josh in a Nutshell

• Moved to Kirksville at age 2. His Dad was the football coach at Kirksville High School.
• He graduated from Kirksville High School and Truman State University with a biology degree
• Taught special education at Kirksville high school for two years. He also coached football and basketball.
• Graduated from UMKC’s law school
• Now works at Preferred Family Healthcare doing corporate law

Why Josh is Running

“It’s no secret, I’m not real happy with the job [Kristie Swaim] is doing,” said Meyer.  He said he is running because he thinks he can do the job better while treating people with more respect. He doesn’t like the way Swaim treats him, other attorneys and his clients. He said that he has to prep his clients about how they will be treated in the courtroom, and he shouldn’t have to do that. He argued that defendants already know they're in trouble, or they're going through a hard time. Its not the place of the judge to make them feel worse.

Josh also pointed out that much of Swaim's job includes ruling on custody and divorce cases, yet she is not married and does not have children. Josh said Swaim lacks the personal experience that is necessary to make a sensitive and appropriate ruling in these types of cases. Josh, on the other hand, is married with children and has had different jobs and different life experiences and he said he will be able to bring a greater and more understanding perspective to the bench.

Top 3 Things He wants to do for Adair County

• Make defendants more accountable. This will include incorporating private probation, which will occur at no cost to anyone except the defendants.
• Make sure cases that are heard by the Adair County Circuit Judge are brought back and heard in Adair County again.
• Treat everyone with respect, a part of the job he believes Swaim is seriously lacking.

We're sorry this post is so late, but hopefully you can read it before heading to the polls tomorrow. Please, please, please don't forget to vote! Your vote does count, especially in local elections. So, what are you waiting for? Go vote!